RADICAN’S ROH TV REPORT
AIRED Nov. 12, 2011
TAPED AT THE DAVIS ARENA
LOUSIVILLE, KY

The show began with a recap of Haas & Benjamin vs. Coleman & Alexander from the previous week.

Kevin Kelly introduced the show with Nigel McGuinness. They hyped the Wolves vs. HOT main event.

The Bravados made their entrance. Kelly threw to Bobby Cruise in the ring for the introductions. The Young Bucks then made their entrance. Kelly said they didn’t care what people thought about them.

Radican’s thoughts: Surprising the Young Bucks didn’t get more of an introduction to the new audience.

The Young Bucks refused to shake hands prior to the match.

1 - - THE BRAVODOS (Lance & Harlem Bravado) vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson)

Kelly talked about the Young Bucks bad attitude coming from their bad experience in the “entertainment” world of wrestling. The Young Bucks isolated Lance and went to work on him in the ring. The fans chanted for the Young Bucks as the action broke down. Harlem slipped out of a suplex and tagged in Lance, who ran wild. Kelly said if the Bravados continue to improve, they can be tag champs in 2012. Harlem sent Matt and Nick to the outside and nailed them with a big flip dive to the floor and the crowd went nuts. Nick tried to take out Harlem, but Lance made the save and the Bravados nailed Matt with a tandem bulldog. Matt took out Lance with a dive to no reaction. The Young Bucks then hit a tandem face buster on Harlem. Matt then immediately flipped through the ropes onto Lance. The Young Bucks finished off Harlem with the more bang for your buck.

Winners: Matt & Nick Jackson – The action was fine, but neither team did anything to further their heel personas.

The Young Bucks teased shaking hands after the match, but ended up pulling them back.

A commercial break aired with Kelly hyping “Final Battle 2011.” This featured the same Briscoes promo that has been shown before.

Kevin Kelly brought in ROH World Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin for an in-ring promo. Haas talked about what went down at the “Best in the World” iPPV when the Briscoes jumped them in June after the match. Haas said he hadn’t forgotten about what the Briscoes did. Benjamin said he never liked the Briscoes. Benjamin said nothing matters until they get their hands on the Briscoes. ANX then made their way down to ringside. King said he was sick of WGTT and the Briscoes not talking about ANX. King said they were the hottest tag team in ROH. King said they didn’t believe Haas & Benjamin could beat them. King said WGTT were just a bunch of ducks like Donald and Daffy. Titus said all they need is an opportunity.

Radican’s thoughts: I was looking for more out of ANX when they came out to confront Haas & Benjamin. ANX lost their right for a tag shot on television and it doesn’t make much sense for them to have any credibility looking for a shot at Haas & Benjamin at this point. The mic work from King wasn’t terrible, but the line about Donald and Daffy Duck was really lame.

A commercial for ROHWrestling.com aired.

The “Inside ROH” segment aired with a look at Kevin Steen hosted by Kevin Kelly. The video package showed Steen & Generico breaking up at “Final Battle 2009.” Kelly then narrated footage of Corino’s influence on Steen’s actions against Generico. Kelly discussed their feud in 2010 leading to their Loser Leaves ROH match at Final Battle 2010. Footage aired of Generico’s victory at “Final Battle 2010” that forced Steen out of ROH. Kelly then discussed Corino’s attempt in 2011 to rehabilitate his evil persona. Steen’s return at “Best in the World” in June was shown when Steen turned on ROH instead of apologizing for his actions. Kelly then narrated footage of Cornette saying we would never see Steen in ROH again. Footage was then show of Steen invading ROH at “Death Before Dishonor IX” and hitting the package piledriver on Cary Silkin. The package finished focusing on Steen’s legal action to try to get back into ROH.

Radican’s thoughts: This package did a really good job of putting the Steen storyline into perspective and was badly needed for fans not familiar with the entire story.

Jay Lethal was shown. He said he can’t stand Mike Bennett. Lethal said Bennett isn’t the real TV Champion like he’s been saying. Lethal said he would be happy to give Bennett a rematch. Bennett said Lethal was delusional to think he would get a shot at Richards at “Final Battle.” Bennett said he felt like he had already beaten Lethal. Bennett said he was granting Lethal a rematch because he’s nice. Brutal Bob patted Bennett and told him he’s a prince. Bennett said he wanted a different ref for their rematch. Bennett said Bob should be the referee.

Radican’s thoughts: Lethal’s promo was much improved from his previous efforts. Bennett and Bob came across as a little too far over the top with their mid-card heel routine in their part of the segment. I get that they’re chickens--- heels, but Bennett needs to come across as more unlikable than he did here.

A commercial aired for ROHWrestling.com.

Kelly was shown at ringside with McGuinness. Corino interrupted them and cut a promo. Corino said he was sorry for interrupting. Corino said he’s an evil person, but he has a solution to a problem. Corino said there’s a monster among them. Corino said Cornette wouldn’t return his calls or emails. Corino asked for five minutes to talk to Cornette.

Kelly pitched to a video package setting up the American Wolves vs. HOT main event.

House of Truth made their entrance for the TV main event with Truth Martini leading Roderick Strong and Michael Elgin to the ring. Richards and Edwards then came out to a good reaction from the crowd. Bobby Cruise then did the formal introductions.

A commercial aired with Cornette hyping “Final Battle 2011.” He brought in Edwards for a repeat promo.

Kevin Kelly ran down the “Tale of the Tape” prior to the opening bell.

2 - - HOUSE OF TRUTH (Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin w/Truth Martini) vs. THE AMERICAN WOLVES (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards)

Strong and Elgin jumped the Wolves instead of shaking hands and the ref called for the bell. The Wolves quickly fired back taking out Elgin and Strong. Edwards got a 2 count on Elgin after a missile dropkick from Edwards. Elgin fired back on Edwards and nailed him with a series of chops in the corner. Strong tagged in and continued the assault. The fans tried to rally behind Edwards as Elgin and Strong tagged in and out of the match to work him over. Edwards pushed Elgin towards his own corner allowing Richards to tag in. Richards nailed Elgin with a series of kicks and the crowd applauded. Elgin countered a handspring from Richards and dropped him over his shoulders to the mat to regain the upper hand. Strong tagged in and went to work on Richards. Richards tried to fire back, but Strong cut him off with a dropkick.

The crowd tried to rally behind Richards, who pulled the ropes on Elgin and Strong. The Wolves sent their opponents to the outside and nailed them with a tandem dive through the ropes that popped the crowd. Edwards tossed Strong into the ring and nailed him with a running kick to the back for a 2 count. Edwards cut off Strong up top and nailed him with the backpack chinbreaker. Edwards then applied the Achilles lock, but Strong eventually got to the ropes. Both men battled on the apron. Elgin distracted Edwards just enough to allow Strong to nail him with a backbreaker on the apron.

Kelly introduced a commercial break.

They came back from commercial with Elgin in control of Edwards. Kelly showed some action during the break that saw Strong nail Edwards with a backbreaker. Edwards charged at Elgin, but got nailed with a powerslam for a 2 count. Edwards fired back and hit a double code breaker on Elgin and Strong. Richards got the hot tag and ran wild. The crowd popped after Richards got a rollup on Elgin while suplexing Strong with a bridge for a nearfall. Richards got the ankle lock on Elgin, who managed to kick Richards away. The crowd clapped as Richards and Edwards went up top. Strong tossed Richards to the outside and Elgin got out of the way of a dive off the top from Edwards. Elgin hit a sidewalk slam on Richards for a 2 count. The action broke down with Strong and Edwards going at it on the outside. Edwards rant into the ring and cut off Elgin, but Strong ran into the ring and nailed him with a kick Richards nailed Strong with a kick. Elgin then got Richards and Edwards on his back and suplexed both of them to the mat.

The crowd applauded with all four men down on the mat. All four men went at it in the middle of the ring. Richards kicked Strong to the outside. Richards and Edwards went up top. Edwards hit Elgin with a doublestomp. Richards followed up with another doublestomp off the top, but Strong made the save. Richards nailed Elgin with a kick to the head. Edwards and Richards then took turns hitting kicks to Elgin’s head, but he kicked out. Richards got Elgin in the ankle lock, but he managed to escape. Elgin caught Richards with a knee to the head as he charged at him. Elgin followed up with a powerbomb, but Richards kicked out. Martini pulled the ref out of the ring. Elgin hit another powerbomb, but there was no ref to count the fall. Edwards ran in and locked in a dragon sleeper on Elgin. The announcers said Edwards had never used that move before. Edwards released the hold and Richards covered Elgin for the win.

Winners: Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a very good TV main event with a lot of good back and forth action leading into the finish. Both teams had the crowd invested in the match. The finish was well-done with the announcers selling Edwards’s new submission that put Elgin to sleep with the ref on the outside. Richards never saw the submission and covered Elgin for the win moments later.

Richards looked confused after the match. McGuinness said Richards would have something else to worry about when he saw the submission on tape. Kelly wondered how this would impact Richards vs. Edwards III at “Final Battle.”

Overall score: (6.0) – This was a solid week of television for ROH. The show featured two tag matches that featured some good action with the Richards & Edwards vs. Strong & Elgin match being very good. I was disappointed the Young Bucks weren’t introduced with some highlight segments. They could be a great asset to the company, but they debuted with a whimper against the Bravados.

Lethal showed some improvement on the mic this week and had some strong words for Bennett. The problem is that Bennett’s act seemed to be missing something this week to take his heel act to the next level where he seems credible. It’s time for Bennett and Brutal Bob to improve the way they presents themselves as Bob is never going to get over dressing the way he does.

The Kevin Steen video package was well-done and informed new fans of his history in the company using old footage dating back to 2009 to explain why he’s not wanted by Cornette in ROH. This should help draw some interest for his involvement at “Final Battle,” although I think he’d be better suited not getting lawyers to force his way back into ROH.

The main event featured some excellent tag action. Both teams put in a good effort to deliver an excellent match by TV standards. The finish was well-done with Edwards using a new submission to put Elgin to sleep without Richards seeing him use it to add another wrinkle to their match at “Final Battle.”

Overall, this wasn’t the most exciting show. ANX and WGTT fell flat during their in-ring segment with Kevin Kelly. Something has to be done at the next set of tapings to make these shows seem more exciting. Some of the camera angles look terrible with the glaring like and the formula of the show feels stale. There are some really satisfying aspects to this show, but the lack of a buzz-generating angle or a top personality that’s really strong holds the company back at this point.

Contact Sean at PWTorchSean@gmail.com

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